In the aftermath of a car accident, a lack of immediate symptoms can blind accident survivors to hidden injuries that may get worse if left untreated. Accident survivors may be at risk of long-term chronic pain and the need for rehabilitation without even knowing it.
One such injury that can play hide-and-seek with car accident survivors is a spinal cord injury. While some spinal cord injuries are immediately detectable, others may take hours or even days to manifest. Therefore, accident survivors should know the signs to look out for which may indicate a spinal cord injury.
Loss of sensation or movement
An alarming sign of a spinal cord injury that accident survivors should not overlook is a sudden loss of sensation or the inability to move certain parts of their body. Suppose this doesn’t occur immediately; survivors should know it may develop over time as swelling and inflammation set in. The location of the accident will determine where the loss of sensation and movement will manifest.
For example, if the injury occurs in the neck area, it may result in loss of movement in the limbs. Injuries lower in the spine may lead to loss of sensation or movement in the lower half of the body. Even a tingling sensation or numbness should warrant immediate medical attention, as these could be early signs of a more severe condition.
Severe back or neck pain
Experiencing intense pain in the back or neck can easily be downplayed as expected soreness after an accident. In reality, these are telltale signs that could be pointing to a spinal cord injury. Accident survivors should seek a healthcare provider if the pain is:
- Sharp
- Stabbing
- Persistent
In spinal cord injuries, the resulting pain often radiates into the arms or the legs, depending on the location of the injuries. The pain may indicate that, due to the impact of the crash, the vertebrae:
- Shifted
- Sustained fractures
- Got compressed
Even if the pain seems manageable at first, accident survivors should not ignore their symptoms.
Accident survivors who sustain spinal cord injuries may have to commit to long-term treatment to manage their injuries. With compassionate legal help, they can potentially secure compensation to offset some of their medical bills.
